LAPD’s Urban Warfare Trng

Suspicious Activity Reports! “WE WEREN’T CRAZY” – SCMLA

U.S. military really were using the streets & airspace of Los Angeles & environs to practice urban warfare! =:O

Please note: The U.S. military already have large military bases set up for urban warfare training — there is NO need for them to use civilian areas (except for acclimatization purposes)!Full Details HERE

Plus: “On July 4, 2009, the city of Pasadena, California, will celebrate independence by erecting checkpoints to search vehicles for fireworks. ‘Violators are subject to confiscation and impound of vehicles, up to one year in jail and fines up to $50,000,’” reports the Pasadena Star-News. More HERE.

There have been some questions recently about all the helicopter activity in the Echo Park area. The Eastsider LA was trying to figure it out (and eventually did!) and even the LAPD’s one media relations officer had no clue despite the information being published last week on their blog. The urban training missions began June 15 and will continue through Saturday. “The operations will be routine training exercises conducted by military personnel, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments and meet mandatory training certification requirements,” the LAPD wrote. “Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities do not interfere with the daily routines of the local populace.”

It appears that the mysterious stealth helicopters spotted buzzing over Echo Park and downtown at night are part of a joint training exercise between the military and the LAPD. One reader, named Echo Park Gal, spotted this information on the LAPD blog:

“From June 15-27, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be providing support for joint military training exercises in and around the greater Los Angeles area.

The operations will be routine training exercises conducted by military personnel, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments and meet mandatory training certification requirements.

Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities do not interfere with the daily routines of the local populace. Safety precautions have also been taken to prevent risk to the general public, as well as to military personnel involved. The training is not open to the public.”

LAPD SWAT officer Steve Scallon, however, disputes reports by numerous residents that the helicopters are flying in the dark without lights. While the choppers may not be using their spotlights, the other lights are on, said Scallon. “It’s just regular training,” he said.

The mysterious helicopter that has been flying over and around Echo Park at night without any lights on made another appearance Tuesday evening. Kevin, the Angeleno Heights resident who reported the aircraft to The Eastsider, tried to take a photo of last night’s flyover. As you can see, there is not much to see except some blurry downtown skyscrapers. Says Kevin’s wife:

“He took a few pictures tonight but they didn’t show much, what with it being dark out and no lights on the helicopters. I’ve attached the best one below. Note the dark blotch in the sky… “

It’s kind of difficult to tell where one dark blotch ends and the other begins. Could the Echo Park Stealth chopper be a military-related “black helicopter” or, more likely, part of a prop in some over-the-top Hollywood movie? Anyway, keep those cameras, preferably with a fancy night-vision feature, aimed at the skies tonight. Snap a photo and send it in.

* Update: So, while an LAPD spokewoman said earlier today that the Media Relations department had not been informed of any aerial training, a reader named Echo Park Gal found information on the department’s own blog that might explain all the nocturnal helicopter flights. Thanks, Echo Park Gal.

Night-time military helicopter flights over downtown Los Angeles this week are part of training exercises to familiarize military personnel with urban settings and prepare them for future assignments overseas, according to authorities.

The helicopters, which have appeared nightly for almost a week, have attracted the attention of residents as they hover over downtown landmarks like City Hall, or maneuver quickly between office skyscrapers on Bunker Hill. While many residents speculated that the diving and climbing helicopters were part of a movie shoot, authorities confirmed Wednesday that they were part of a joint exercise.

A short notice saying the LAPD would be supporting an urban military exercise was posted on the department’s official blog.

The notice says the exercises started June 15 and are scheduled to end Saturday and that they will occur throughout Greater Los Angeles.

Authorities said training sites and times have been selected so they do not disrupt the daily routines of businesses and residents. Safety precautions have also been taken to protect the public and military personnel. The training is not open to the public.

Military helicopters that have been startling Los Angeles residents with night-time flights downtown are just part of an ongoing exercise to familiarize troops with urban operations in preparation for deployment overseas.

Local TV, radio and other news outlets had received calls from several residents reporting helicopters darting between skyscrapers and carrying armed troops over City Hall.

Some speculated that the maneuvers were part of a movie shoot, but a notice on the LAPD blog revealed that police would be assisting the military in a group of urban exercises that will end Saturday.

In addition to the downtown flights, other activities are planned around town, so police said residents should not be alarmed if they happen across military units in uniform or carrying weapons.

Kevin from Angeleno Heights reports seeing a helicopter flying over Echo Park at night without any lights. He spotted and heard it last week and again last night at about 9 pm dashing over Elysian Park.

“It had no flashing lights. No spot lights. No nothing. You would think that anything flying at night would have to have a light for other aircraft.”

Since it was too early for Margarita Wednesday, The Eastsider assumes Kevin was thinking clearly when he spotted the stealth helicopter. Now, has anyone else?

Los Angeles: From June 15-27, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be providing support for joint military training exercises in and around the greater Los Angeles area.

The operations will be routine training exercises conducted by military personnel, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments and meet mandatory training certification requirements.

Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities do not interfere with the daily routines of the local populace. Safety precautions have also been taken to prevent risk to the general public, as well as to military personnel involved. The training is not open to the public.

Questions or concerns may be directed to Officer Steve Scallon at 213-305-4685.

Note: While sobriety checkpoints are currently“legal,” SCMLA does NOT support the idea that they are Constitutional, as they are in direct opposition to the 4th Amendment to the Bill of Rights & therefore an unConstitutional law is void at its inception & may be protested at will. The information below was taken directly from the LAPD website & we are providing it is a service to you.